Abortion Foes Take Fight To Municipal Level In NM

Anti-abortion activists are taking their fight to Albuquerque, turning in more than twice the needed signatures to get a ban on abortions after 20 weeks placed on the ballot for the city's local elections.

Organizer Tara Shaver says Albuquerque is the first city being targeted because it is home to one of the few clinics in the country that offers late-term abortions. She says New Mexico's Democrat-controlled Legislature has failed to seriously consider requests for restrictions at the state level.

The city attorney has said he doubts such a city ordinance could trump the federal law guaranteeing women a right to abortion. The American Civil Liberties Union has vowed to challenge the ordinance should it pass.

Courts have blocked 20-week abortion bans in Arizona and two other states from taking effect.